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One of the most highly anticipated sequels of all-time is finally here in BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT: MASTER RACE!

In 1986, Frank Miller introduced his iconic take on Batman and changed the face of comics forever. Now, three decades after BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Miller himself has returned with a third chapter to his groundbreaking saga.

It’s been three years since the Batman defeated Lex Luthor and saved the world from tyranny. Three years since anyone has seen Gotham City’s guardian alive. Wonder Woman, Queen of the Amazons…Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern…Superman, the Man of Steel…all of the Dark Knight’s allies have retreated from the front lines of the war against injustice.

But now a new war is beginning. An army of unimaginable power led by Superman’s own daughter is preparing to claim Earth as their new world.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Engaging.... a smart, gripping read."--Popmatters

"It's hard to resist a comic that features the talents of Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Brian Azzarello, and Andy Kubert. Alone, any one of these guys could sell a comic. With their powers combined? It's insane. Enjoy the ride, because Dark Knight III: The Master Race is pretty damn good."--Nerdist

"Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and other heroes are back on the page showcasing Miller's distinctive flavor."--USA Today

"Frank Millers's return to the DARK KNIGHT universe is not only an all-star collaboration, but also the rare comic-book "event" that lives up to its own hype."--Washington Post

About the Author

Frank Miller began his career in comics in the late 1970s and rose to fame while first drawing, and then writing, Daredevil for Marvel Comics. He was also the creative force behind BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, BATMAN: YEAR ONE and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. His many works have not only redefined classic characters, but also, on a few occasions, revitalized the comics industry. His multi-award-winning graphic novel 300 was brought to full-blooded life in the 2007 motion picture of the same name, and in 2008 he directed the feature film Will Eisner's The Spirit. His creator-owned crime saga Sin City first hit the page in 1991, and then the silver screen in 2005, with Miller on board as co-director with Robert Rodriguez. The two returned to direct the sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, released in 2014 and featuring two new stories by Miller. In 2015, Miller returned to his best-selling series with the highly anticipated BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT: MASTER RACE.

Top customer reviews

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I read Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and loved it. I read Miller's The Dark Knight Strikes Again and liked it. When I heard about Dark Knight: Master Race, by Miller with Brian Azzarello, I was hoping for more of a Dark Knight Returns feeling. And you know what? I did like it. Master Race isn't as good as the original (that would be hard to accomplish), but I enjoyed it a lot more than I remember enjoying more than The Dark Knight Strikes Again. And that's a good thing. With sequels or returns to classic stories, there is a danger involved; so many people enjoy the classic original, that the creators risk alienating fans both old and new. Well, in my opinion, Miller and Azzarello have done a fine job with The Master Race.

A quick synopsis: Batman is missing and presumed dead, Superman has removed himself from involving himself in humanity's affairs, Wonder Woman is busy ruling the Amazons and raising her children (a daughter and son). Other heroes seem to be laying low as well. In to this world comes rumor of a Batman sighting, which doesn't sit well with many. Additionally, Lara (the teenage daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman) visits her frozen father at his Fortress of Solitude. While there, she discovers the bottled city of Kandor, and is convinced to take it to Ray Palmer, the hero known as the Atom. The residents of Kandor want to be returned to normal size and Palmer's shrinking technology is just the ticket. But all is not as it seems when the Kandorians return. And thus, the foundation for the story of The Master Race is born.

I enjoyed reading this story. I found that Miller and Azzarello had a new and interesting take on the story of the Kandorians, and the tie-in to how superheroes were viewed in this world was nice. The subplots, involving Superman, Wonder Woman, and their children; Batman and his new Robin, Carrie Kelley; or even the cameos by heroes such as the Atom, Aquaman, and Flash, were all complimentary and dovetailed nicely with the main storyline. In fact, I really liked how the other heroes were very naturally brought into the story, rather than forced in just for fan service.

In addition to collecting the main comic story, this collected edition also contains nine separate mini-comics stories that ran in the individual comics, each focusing on a side story that adds to the overall enjoyment of The Master Race. Some of these stories focus on heroes, such as the Atom or the new Batgirl, and some show events that happen off the page of the main storyline. All were well done and deserved their place in this story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Miller and Azzarello's The Dark Knight: The Master Race. It was a well-written story that added to the mythology of Miller's original The Dark Knight Returns. I highly recommend it to all Batman fans, and to anyone who enjoyed The Dark Knight Returns. It would also be an entertaining read for new fans wondering what all the Frank Miller Batman fuss is about.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I reread DK2 this afternoon before polishing off this much larger tomb (DK3). This is a better book than Mr. Miller's 2001-02 sequel, but it is nowhere near the book that DK1 is (I can't imagine many serious readers coming to a different conclusion).

The art is mixed, which gives the story a disjointed feel. There are some glorious splash pages, including a few that are nostalgic without being silly.

The story picks up three years after the defeat of Lex Luthor at the end of DK2. As in the previous two volumes, Superman has a co-starring role. Mr. Miller continues to use TV media to comment on the action. We see Jon Stewart, Megan Kelley, Bill O'Reilly, Kelly Ripa & Michael Strahan, Andersen Cooper, Joe Scarborough, Al Sharpton, and the cast from Fox and Friends. We also get a few quips out of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and Donald Trump. After 9/11, Frank Miller engaged in what some might call xenophobic, hard right-wing politics. Thankfully, those views don't come out in this book, and the media and political figures from all sides of the political spectrum seem to be fairly handled. Despite the appearance of all these individuals, there is little comment on the roll of media and politics, other than to state that it is silly, vapid and ineffectual.

Frank Miller has his strongest comments on the ubiquity of cell phones and how people walk around in a daze, with little regard or understanding for life or what is happening around them.

As in DK2, we have appearances from many of the surviving Justice League members. As in the previous volume, they don't add much to the story (save for Diana Prince). The villains (both the major and minor) have all been thematically done before by other writers. The major conflict is an ok read, but we all know how it will ultimately end. As in other comics, this is a problem.

The pleasant surprise of the book is the continued evolution of Carrie, who was the female Robin in DK1. She is given a number of strong scenes and a bunch of narrative space. Bruce loves and admires her. She is still a sidekick and suffers the aspects of other DC sidekicks, but there is still a certain something that is refreshing about her (behind her being female for females' sake).

In addition to the nine issues of "The Master Race," all of the separate tie-in issues are gathered here and inserted in their proper place. They don't add much, but completists will be pleased of their presence.

Despite Miller's typically reactionary themes, The Dark Knight III presents a compelling and modern take on the future of The Justice League in a world where our current systems have collapsed. Perhaps this is prophets, or perhaps cautionary, as we lack superheroes to right our wrongs.

But the story does reflect the global themes of Ethnonationalism and reactionary neo-Fascism that now dominate the Western World, undermining the traditions of Liberal Democracy.

When the Dark Knight Strikes Back came out, I read it and threw it down in disgust. Utter trash. Then this came out. Utterly brilliant. Every panel, every word drips with greatness. I finished it and read it again. Kudos to the band. Just a great job and that's all I will say.